Today I’m going to present you my personal favorites among the Symbian smartphones. All of these devices are powerful enough to handle email and web, and come with built-in Bluetooth and WLAN connectivity options. So, without further adieu, let’s start.
1. Nokia N95
We all know the N95, Nokia’s ultimate all-in-one device. This baby packs such features as 5 MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, integrated GPS and a 2.6″ QVGA screen in a unique dual-slider form factor. The N95 relies on S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1, which works on top of Symbian OS, that among other things brings superior web browsing experience. Did I mention that the N95 also has a TV-out? 🙂
2. Nokia E90 Communicator
The new Communicator was presented at the 3GSM in Barcelona. Like N95, the E90 sports integrated GPS, and is also based on S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1. But, E90 goes one step further – it also sports the full QWERTY keyboard and an astonishing resolution of its internal screen of 800×342 pixels. That’s full web browsing on the go! The bad side – E90’s dimensions. I can’t imagine myself having one in my pocket. Then again, all these features require some space, and I’m sure that business users will appreciate it.
3. Nokia N93/N93i
The Nokia N93 is the device I currently have and I can tell nothing but great things about it. It may be bit bulky, but its 3.2 MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics has a real 3x optical zoom. Furthermore, (again) like N95, the N93/N93i can capture a DVD-like quality video that can be later watched on your TV directly from the phone (TV-out). The N93i is a bit fancier version of the N93, and apparently has a better camera algorithm.
4. Sony Ericsson P990i
This is the only non-Nokia device on the list. With its P990i model, Sony Ericsson continued its line of the successful “P” series. The new, UIQ 3-based device, packs a 2 MP camera with auto focus and, unlike earlier “P” series devices, a QWERTY keyboard that is actually usable.
5. Nokia E61i
The Nokia E61i is a successor of the popular E61 smartphone, which brings the full QWERTY keyboard and a 2 MP camera. When compared with the E61, except the camera, the new device also replaces the joystick with much easier to use 5-way navigation key. Business users may be wondering whether to buy E90 or the E61i. I believe that E61i is much better choice in most cases, as with it you avoid the bulkiness of the new Communicator.
Among the honorable mentions, I would point out the Sony Ericsson M600i and Nokias E65, E70, N73 and N80. At the end selecting the right phone is a personal thing and, well, the question of price. However, I believe that the N95 stands out from the crowd with all the features it packs, with its size and its unique form factor. Any thoughts?